System of kilns



L. WEEKS.

SYSTEM OF KILNS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I2. 1920.

5 v. 3 a 9L T N M m 4 m a g A mm 0 3 m H m a P 2 1 5 4 E 4 S 0 5 A m 1 W a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

L. WEEKS.

SYSTEM OF KILNS.

APPLICATION man AUG.I2. 1920.

-INVENTOR. Zfifl M55115 I M a ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES L. WEEKS. SYSTEM OF KILNS..

APPLICATION flLED AUG. 12, 1920.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- 455m mar/rs INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES LEROY WEEKS, OF NEVADA, IOWA.

SYSTEM OF KILNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

Application filed August 12, 1920. Serial No. 403,026.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEROY lVEnKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nevada, in the county of Story and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in kilns, the primary object of the invention being to provide a battery or several batteries of kilns all connected u in a system whereby heat or products of combustion may be'successively conveyed from one kiln to another throughout the entire battery by the provision of economical means for causing the products of combustion to travel downwardly through the interior of each kiln being heated thereby making it possible to start fires in the klln while it is being preheated by the products of combustion entering from an adjacent kiln.

The invention also has for an object to provide an exhaust conduit, common to all kilns of a battery and by-passes whereby the products of combustion may be conveyed either to the adjacent kiln or to the exhaust conduit.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a battery or several batteries of kilns connected by a system whereby products of combustion may be conveyed from one kiln to another, while means are provided in the system for varying the temperature of the products of combustion entering the kiln which is to be heated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kiln having a plurality of heat pockets communicating with a heat chamber common to all and a plurality of fire boxes arranged between the heat pockets whereby the kiln may admit heat or products of combustion through the heat pockets when fires are burning in the fire boxes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a pair of kilns constituting a part of a battery.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through a fan housing.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illus trating a battery of kilns arranged in series and in a row.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic View of a battery of kilns arranged in a series of two rows, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration'are shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, a battery of kilns arranged in a one row series has been shown to illustrate the application of the invention and as all of the kilns are of homogeneous construction and the connection of the pairs of kilns throughout the battery are identical, a description of one pair of kilns will sutiice for all. Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 4 the numeral 7 designates a kiln of the well known con-- figuration and is provided in the base of the side walls thereof with an annular channel or heating chamber 8. A plurality of bag walls 9 extend up the side walls of each kiln, the bottom of the heat pockets communicating with the heat chamber 8, while the upper endsof the heat pockets open into the top of the kiln. Between the bag walls 9 and above the grate or floor of the kiln are arranged fire boxes 11 the purpose of this arrangement being that fires may be built in the fire boxes while the kiln is receiving products of combustion from an adjacent kiln through the heat chamber 8 and bag walls 9. As seen in Figures 1 and 2 the tops of the fire boxes 11 communicate with the bag walls whereby heat from the boxes may be conveyed to the top of the kiln around the side walls thereof.

As clearly seen in the drawings, the grate or floor of the kiln is arranged a distance above the surface of the ground, and ar ranged; centrally of each kiln is a pit 12 forming a part of a subterranean conduit 13. This conduit of each kiln, with the exception of the conduit of the end kiln of the battery, extends outwardly to' a point beyond the outline of its respective kiln to communicate with a fan housing 14 which forms a part of the conduit illldi is provided with an extension 15 in the form of a pipe which is arranged above the surface of the ground and enters the side wallof the adjacent kiln to communicate with the heat chamber 8 thereof. A suction fan 16 is rotatably mounted within the fan housing 14 upon a shaft 17, the latter deriving its power from any suitable source. This fan shaft extends vertically through the top of the fan housing and this top is provided with a plurality of openings 18 which may will.

A damper 20 is provided at each, heat conduit 13 adjacent its respective fan housing, it being noted that a similar damper 20 is provided in the heat conduit 13 of the end kiln, as most clearly seen in Figure 4. The heat conduit 13 of the end kiln as most clearly seen in Figure 4- instead of communicating with an adjacent kiln, communicates with an exhaust conduit 21, extending longitudinally of the battery of kilns to terminate in a stack 22.

In order that the products of combustion may be conveyed to the exhaust conduit when it is not desired to heat an adjacent kiln, I provide each conduit 13 with a bypass 23 which communicates with its respective conduit 13 beyond the damper 20 and at its other endwith the exhaust conduit 21. A damper 24; is provided in each bypass so thatit may be closed when the damper 20 of the conduit 13 is opened for conveying the products of combustion from one kiln to the adjacent kiln.

As shown in Figure 4:, if after the products of combustion have been passed from right to left throughout the battery of kilns and is permitted to enter the exhaust conduit 21 it should be desired to convey the products of combustion back to the first or right hand kiln of the series, this may be done by permitting the products of combustion to enter this kiln through a return conduit 25 in which is arranged a suction fan. In the event that it is only desired to heat the first kiln, the dampers 20 and 24: associated with its conduit 13 and by-pass 23 are closed, while the damper 26 is open.

The outlet'conduit 27 communicates at one end with the pit 12 of the end kiln, while the opposite end communicates with the stack 22.

the-suction fan 16 has been started and the damper 20 opened and the heat or products row series above set forth; the only differof combustion will pass downwardly through the kiln and into the conduit 13. If it is desired to preheat the left hand kiln prior to starting the fires therein, the damper 20 is opened, while a damper 24 in the by-pass is closed. The suction fan 16 continues to operate and cause the products of combustion to pass through the conduit 13 from the right hand kiln into the heating chamber 8 of the left hand kiln. The products of j combustion will then pass up through the pockets 9 in the left hand kiln and thence downwardly through the interior thereof to exhaust into theconduit 13. Due to the arrangement of the fire boxes 11 between the pockets 9, it will be apparent that fires may be started therein during the preheating of the kiln. From the foregoing it will be apparent that theheat from one kiln may be conveyed into the successive kiln and throughout the entire body of kilns.

In Figures 5 and 6, a different arrangement of kilns is illustrated, they being arranged in a two row series. The kilns of this series are of identically the same construction as the kilns in the foregoing system, and each kiln is also provided with a heat conduit 13 identical with the heat conduit and draft arrangement of the one ence in the arrangement being that each conduit 13 is provided withan independent exhaust conduit 28 having a damper 29 therein. By this arrangement it will be apparent that the products of combustion may be started in one kiln and conveyed around the entire series and back to the first kiln in which the fires were started. 7 If it is only desired to use one kiln, the damper 20 in its conduit 13 is closed, while the damper29 in the exhaust conduit or stack 28 is opened to permit the products of combustion to escape into the atmosphere.

The foregoing description and the accom anying drawings have reference to the pre erred or approved embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood however that such changes may be made inconstruction and arrangement of parts, materials,

.dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims. V

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new is 3 1 1. The combination with a pair of kilns, each being equipped with an: annular heat chamber disposed in the walls of. the kiln, above the surface of the ground, a subterranean passage from one kiln having its out-- let disposedbetween the two kilns, and a fine communicating with the outlet of the subterranean passage and with the heat-chamber of one of the kilns through the side wall thereof.

2. The combination with a pair of kilns,

a heat chamber formed directly in the side walls of each kiln and extending entirely therearound, fire boxes in the kiln, bag walls in each kiln communicating with its respective heat chamber, a well disposed centrally in the bottom of one of said kilns, a subterranean passage communicating with said Wells and having an outlet through the surface upon which the kilns are supported, and a removable casing having communication with said outlet, and the heat chamber of one of the kilns through the side thereof. 3. The combination with a plurality of kilns, of a conduit having its ends communicating with each pair of adjacent kilns, a suction fan in each conduit, and means for varying the temperature of the products of combustion passing through said conduits.

4. The combination with a pair of kilns, each being equipped with an annular heat chamber disposed in the walls of the kilns above the surface of the ground, a subterranean passage from one kiln having its outlet disposed between the kilns, a casing having communication with said subterranean passage and the heat chamber of one of the kilns through the side thereof, said casing being provided with a plurality of air openings, and a plate for controlling the opening and closing of said openings.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEROY W'EEKS.

WVitnesses:

CORY S. KURTZ, S. H. OoUGHENoUR. 

